Neil Diamond, the legendary troubadour reared on Tin Pan Alley, says he’s retiring from touring after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. The announcement came yesterday, just eight dates shy of Diamond concluding his 50th Anniversary Tour.

“It is with great reluctance and disappointment that I announce my retirement from concert touring,” says Diamond in a prepared statement. “I have been so honored to bring my shows to the public for the past 50 years. My sincerest apologies to everyone who purchased tickets and were planning to come to the upcoming shows.” Diamond says he’ll continue to write and record music “for a long time to come.”

Diamond, now a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, began as a struggling, college-dropout songwriter before the (relatively mild) success of his song “Solitary Man” allowed him to begin cultivating a career as a solo performer. Diamond will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammy Awards’ this Sunday.

Part of Diamond’s enduring appeal was his embrace of kitsch, including those famed sequined shirts shimmying in time to his unabashed dancing. It pointed to an earnestness, and obliviousness to trend, that helped sustain his popularity through the waxes and wanes of decades as an artist. His last studio album of originals, Melody Road, was released in October, 2014.

“This ride has been ‘so good, so good, so good,'” wrote Diamond in a winking nod to one of his greatest hits, “thanks to you.”

World-renowned singer, songwriter and performer Neil Diamond has announced his retirement from touring after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

Acting on medical advice, Diamond cancelled the upcoming Australia and New Zealand legs of his 50th Anniversary tour, which were set to commence in March.

Parkinson’s disease is a long-term degenerative disorder which affects the motor systems. It is characterized by shaking, rigidity and difficulty with walking.

The disease makes it difficult for the singer to travel and perform on a large scale, but he said in a statement that he expects to continue writing, recording and developing new projects

“It is with great reluctance and disappointment that I announce my retirement from concert touring. I have been so honoured to bring my shows to the public for the past 50 years,” Diamond said in an announcement on his website. “My sincerest apologies to everyone who purchased tickets and were planning to come to the upcoming shows.”

The singer added: “My thanks goes out to my loyal and devoted audiences around the world. You will always have my appreciation for your support and encouragement. This ride has been ‘so good, so good, so good’ thanks to you.”

The Australia and New Zealand leg of the tour would have been the third leg of the 50th Anniversary route with Diamond selling out shows in the U.S. and Europe throughout 2017.

Ticket holders for the cancelled shows have been advised that they will be automatically refunded in full if they purchased by credit or debit card. Those who purchased tickets with cash of EFTPOS will be contacted to arrange a refund.